Method op making flanges



' c. c. DAVIS.

vMETHOD OF MAKING FLANGES.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 22. 1912.

l 1 94,277 Patented Aug. 8, 1916.

, lg i CHARLES C. DAVIS, F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

METHOD OF IVIAKING FLANGES.

Application filed Detober 22, 1912.

To all [tom it may concern:

Be it known that LCHanLns G. DAVIS, a citizen of the United States, residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Methods of Making Flanges, of which the following is a specification.

One object of my invention is to provide a method for inexpensively and rapidly manufacturing flanges or other annular structures having on one side a hub, scarf, boss or annular projection. These objects and other advantageous ends I secure as hereinafter set forth, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a vertical section of a machine for carrying out my invention, and illustrating the various parts in the positions occupied prior to the beginning of the flanging operation; Fig. 2 is a vertical section similar to Fig. 1, illustrating the positions occupied by the various parts after the completion of the flanging operation, and, Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a special form of punch which may be used in place of that shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

In the above drawings, 1 represents the die supporting base or bolster which is preferably in the form of an annular structure, having an opening in one side to permit of the convenient removal of the punchings formed.

In the present instance the upper face or edge of this base has an annular or other suitably formed projection 4 designed to engage and position a die 5, which is likewise of an annular form. Said die has a central opening 6 whose upper portion is expanded to form or opens into a concentric annular recess 7 separated from the main portion 6 by a shoulder 8 having a relatively sharp edge.

The punch head 9 is mounted in or associated with a hydraulic or other suitable form of power press, and is preferably formed with a central recess 10 for the reception of a central stem or projection 11 attached to or forming part of the punching tool 12. The upper end of this projection is tapered or beveled as indicated at 13 to facilitate its entry into the recess 10 of the punch head and the consequent centering of the punching tool.

The lower end of the tool is provided with a punching section 14, above which is a conical or expanding section 15, terminating in a Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 8, 1916.

Serial No. 727,166.

cutting or shearing edge 16, from which the body of the punching tool extends upwardly, it being inwardly tapered, cylindrical or outwardly tapered as may be found advisable.

In carrying out my method of forming flanges, a plate X of suitable thickness and preferably heated to a temperature suitable for working, is placed on top of the die 5, and the punching tool 12 is then loosely placed approximately onto said plate. The tapered upper end of the projection 11 first enters the opening 10 of this head and thereafter the lower face of the latter engages the top surface of the tool body 12.

The power being applied to the punch or press head, the punch 14 will cut into and bend down the central part of plate X, separating a disk-like button w from the center thereof and passing through said plate. The conical part of the tool then bends farther down the inner edges of the annular structure formed by the removal of said button, thus expanding and forcing them into the sides of the recess 7, it being noted that the top edge 17 of said recess is rounded to prevent cutting of the plate at this point.

During this expanding operation, the cutting edge 16 of the punching tool acts on the interior of the roughly formed flange and ultimately makes a clean cut through the same, trimming up the inside surface thereof, and at the same time forcing the metal of the plate into the lower parts of the recess 7, so as to fill the same, there being finally cut off a more or less complete ring m as the punching tool finally passes completely through the finished flange or hub. This with the punching or button as may now be removed from the side opening 3 in the base structure 1 and after the head 9 has been raised, the finished hub or flange :0 may be taken from the die, the punching tool 12 being likewise removed.

In carrying out my method of operation the central hole in the plate X may be formed in one operation, and at any time thereafter, a punching tool such as that indicated at 12 may be used to complete the flange or hub. In such case the relatively blunt conical part 15 of said tool would center the punch in the previously formed hole,

as well as expand the sides of the latter to a greater or less extent, while as before the edge 16 of the tool serves to trim the inside of the flange opening, as well as to force out- Wardly the hub portion to cause it to completely fill all parts of the recess 7 in the die 5, as previously described.

By the above described method of operation, I am enabled to rapidly and inexpensively bend the central part of a plate at right angles to the general plane thereof, so as to form a hub or. flange of the desired dimensions and form. It is of course obvious that While the plate operated on is preferably heated, the method may be carried out if desired on cold metal, and while the central openings through the hubs or flanges are preferably circular in section, they may be of other forms without departing from my invention.

I claim 1. The method which consists in bending the central portion of a blank in lines substantially at right-angles to the plane thereof to form a tubular hub; and trimming surplus material from the wall of the passage through said hub to form a cylindrical surface.

2. The method which consists in forming a hole in a blank adjacent the center thereof; bending the edges of the hole to form a tubular hub; and shearing the surplus metal from the wall of the passage through said hub to form a cylindricalsurface.

3. The method which consists in forming a hole in a blank adjacent the center thereof; bending the edges of the hole to form a hub; and simultaneously shearing the surplus metal from the wall of the passage through the hub to form a cylindrical surface.

4-. The method of making a flanged structure which consists in cutting a hole in a blank; expanding said hole; bending the edges of the hole into lines substantially at Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

